Folding-machine



(No Model.) 3 E. P. DONNELL.

I FOLDING MACHINE. No. 337,937. Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

N. PETERS. Phntoljlhngmpncr. Wmhingtnm D. C

Users rams ATENT ED\VARD P. DONNELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

ffiFECIPICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,937, dated March 16, 1886.

Application filed December F, 1883.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ED\VARD P. DONNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

This invention relates to an improvement in folding-machines; and it consistsin certain peculiarities of the construction and arrangement of thesame, substantially as will behereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will 110w proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my invention; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; and Figs. 3 and -i are details of parts of the device.

A represents the main frame of the machine, havingatable, B,which is divided across its center and each part provided with a metal plate, I) b, slotted for adjustment and placed so as to leave a small space between them, forming a slot, 1), extending entirely across the machine. These plates b b are set to or from each other to allow for different thicknesses of paper and allow free passage between them, but at the same time to fold the paper with sufficient sharpness to admitof its easy seizure and passage by the rolls beneath.

Just below the adjustable metal plates 1) b are arranged two rollers, C O, journaled in boxes 0 c in the main frame. These rollers lie normally close together; but the boxes 00f one of the rollers are arranged to slide horizontally in a slot in the main frame, and are provided with springs c and regulating-screws 0 as seen in Fig. 3, by means of which the pressure upon the paper is regulated at will. At one end these rollers are provided with gear-wheels c, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, by which they are operated together, and one of them has also a belt-pulley, O, to which power is transmitted 'in the usual way from any desired motor.

Above the table B, in suitable guides in the main frame, is placed a sliding head, D, extending transversely across the machine, and to the lower edge of this head is secured athin Serial No. 118,960. (No model) steel plate or folding-knife, D, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The head D is provided with a rod, (1, at each end, extending down through the table and pivoted to arms 1*], Soon red upon a rock-shaft, E, journaled in the lower part of the main frame, this shaft being also provided with a treadle, E, which is connected by a spring, F, with the table, and the head is by this spring returned to its normal position after being depressed by means of the treadle. Astop, f, arranged upon the frame A, engages one of the arms E and prevents the head from being depressed too far.

The main frame is secured together by suitable stay-rods, a a, and upon one of these is pivoted a board, G, forming a receiver for the folded sheets. The upperend of this receiver is provided with a raised shcetmetal deflector, G, which lies beneath and a little at one side of the point of contact of the rollers G C, and serves to deflect the paper as it leaves the rollers and direct it to the receiving-board G. This board is formed with a slot, g, and provided with a stop, G-, which is adjusted at pleasure by a set-screw. g, working in the slot To the loweredge of the receiver is hinged an arm, H, formed with a slot, h, and provided with a hook, h, rendered adjustablein theslot by a sot-nut, h. This hook engages with one of the stay-rods a a, and serves to adjust the receiver at any desired angle.

This machine is intended especially for use in folding printed sheets of paper forming a book, and its operation is as follows: The table B is provided with suitable gages, which are first adjusted to the proper position, and the rollers G O are connected to suitable power and kept in constant motion. The sheets of paper to be folded are then pushed under the head D, and by depressing the treadle the foldingknife is brought down, forcing the paper through the slotted table and carrying it down till its fold is caught by the rollers C G,which draw it through. As it passes'from between the rollers the deflector turns it aside, and it is fed down till it strikes the stop, and its upper end then falls off the deflector by its own weight.

It will be seen that by this machine the sheets are always folded squarely and in the proper place, and the pressure of the rollers IOC In a paper-folding machine, the receiver G,

pivoted in the main frame and provided with I the deflector G and stop G, in combination '[5 neater and more rapid operation than can be done by hand.-

The machine is especially adapted to folding sections for blank books in which five sheets are usually folded at one time, and, if necessary, one, two, or more pairs of rollers may be added to those shown, operating in the same way.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by l Letters'Patent, is I O G presses down the fold and makes a much I with the hinged adjusting-arm H, slotted and provided with the adjustable hook h, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony WhereofI aflix my signature in I presence of two witnesses. EDWARD P. DONNELL.

Witnesses:

W. O. MCARTHUR, CHAS. KRESSMANN. 

